Milking system

Abstract

A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup having a first milk outflow opening, a measuring chamber having a milk inlet which is in flow communication with the first milk outflow opening, with a second milk outflow opening to a milk hose, and with a vacuum connection, and a level sensor for measuring a milk level in the measuring chamber. The milking system further includes a controllable valve having an adjustable passage opening, which is provided in or downstream of the second milk outflow opening, and a control unit which is operatively connected to the level sensor and the valve, and which control unit is configured to adjust the passage opening of the valve on the basis of the measured milk level.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A milking system for milking a dairy animal, comprising:
 at least one milking cup having a first milk outflow opening, 
 a measuring chamber having a milk inlet which is in flow communication with the first milk outflow opening, with a second milk outflow opening to a milk hose, and with a vacuum connection, 
 a level sensor for measuring a milk level in the measuring chamber, 
 a controllable valve having an adjustable passage opening, which is provided in or downstream of the second milk outflow opening, and 
 a control unit which is operatively connected to the level sensor and the valve, and which is configured to adjust the passage opening of the valve on a basis of the measured milk level, 
 wherein the control unit is configured to adjust the passage opening between a smallest open position and a largest open position during at least a part of a milking operation. 
 
     
     
       2. The milking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the measuring chamber is directly and rigidly connected to the milking cup. 
     
     
       3. The milking system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the milking cup and the measuring chamber form one rigid unit. 
     
     
       4. The milking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to enlarge the passage opening in the case of a rising milk level and reduce the passage opening in the case of a falling milk level. 
     
     
       5. The milking system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the control unit is configured to adjust the passage opening in such a way that the aim is a milk level which remains the same. 
     
     
       6. The milking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the level sensor extends substantially vertically over an internal height of the measuring chamber during milking. 
     
     
       7. The milking system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an inclination sensor for determining an inclination of the milking cup, wherein the control unit is operatively connected to the inclination sensor and is configured to correct the measured milk level on a basis of the determined inclination. 
     
     
       8. The milking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve is provided in the measuring chamber. 
     
     
       9. The milking system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the valve is provided in the second milk outflow opening. 
     
     
       10. The milking system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a milk flow meter which is configured to determine a milk flow through the second milk outflow opening on a basis of the passage opening of the valve. 
     
     
       11. The milking system as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a pressure measuring device configured to measure a pressure difference over the valve and/or the passage opening. 
     
     
       12. The milking system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the pressure measuring device comprises a first pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure in the measuring chamber, and a second pressure sensor to measure a pressure in the milk hose. 
     
     
       13. The milking system as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a height determining device configured to determine a milking height at which the measuring chamber is located during milking of the dairy animal, and wherein the milk flow meter is operatively connected to the height determining device and is configured to determine the milk flow on a basis of the determined milking height. 
     
     
       14. The milking system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the height determining device is configured to determine a valve height at which the valve is located during milking, and wherein the milk flow meter is configured to determine the milk flow on a basis of the valve height. 
     
     
       15. The milking system as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a milk hose milk flow meter in or around the milk hose for measuring the milk flow. 
     
     
       16. The milking system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the milk hose milk flow meter is a contactlessly measuring electrically or electromagnetically operated milk hose milk flow meter. 
     
     
       17. The milking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the measuring chamber has a rounded cross section that increases away from the milk inlet. 
     
     
       18. The milking system as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising an additional sensor for measuring a milk-related property. 
     
     
       19. The milking system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the valve in such a way that the milk level increases if the determined milk flow falls below a threshold value. 
     
     
       20. The milking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to continuously adjust the passage opening between a smallest open position and a largest open position during a main milking phase of the milking operation. 
     
     
       21. The milking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the level sensor comprises a series of mutually separate electrodes which are electrically connectable via a sensor control unit. 
     
     
       22. The milking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to set at least one position of the passage opening between a smallest open position and a largest open position during a main milking phase of the milking operation.